Artificial leg



June 15, 1937. LACK g 2,083,830

ARTIFICIAL LEG Filed June 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY %J' .1

unfi 15, 1937. c CLACK 2,083,830

ARTIFICIAL LEG Filed June 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P JZz'ac Credi- T mflium El 51 Gram! irockaillef:

m INVENTOR. J?

fizz LkarZwJ i' Llac By vARIfifg 7 TTORNEY Patented June 15,1937

UNITED STATES ARTIFICIAL LEG Charles F. Clack, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Albert .Sydney Hanger, Washington, D. C.

. Application June 21, 1935, Serial No. 27,810

7 Claims.

My invention relates to artificial legs and primarily seeks to provide a novel leg structure and mounting therefor enabling the complete supporting of the leg and complete control of the movements of the leg sections by the hips of the,

wearer and the surrounding or adjacent anatomical parts.

I am aware that various forms of shoulder support suspenders have been employed for supporting and controlling artificial legs; and that attempts have been made to support and control legs by employment of various forms of waist bands, but all such equipments have proven unsatisfactory commercially because of complete 5 or partial failure of the support or control intended. This failure has been due in part to inability properly to lock the stump in its receiving socket against tendencies of the leg to fall away slightly or twist askew'when the wearer assumes a sitting posture, necessitating hand manipulation or adjustment of the leg by the wearer before attempting to arise. Such devices also have failed because of inability definitely to secure the leg anatomically in a manner actually enabling control of the sections thereof without aidof shoulder straps.

Therefore, it is an'object of my invention to provide an improved artificial leg that may be worn for a single or double amputation at any point of the thigh member without the aid or support of a waist band or shoulder suspenders heretofore employed for suspending and operating the leg and the sections thereof; another object thereof is to produce an artificial leg of said character which will preserve the alinement and position of the stump member of the wearer with relation to the socket of the artificial leg; a further purpose of my invention is the elimination of the discomfort and inconvenience heretofore inherent in the wearing of artificial legs due to friction and wrinkling of the covering of the stump caused by the stump'leaving or moving within the socket bearing at each step which results from relative movement between the leg 4 stump and the socket of the artificial leg.

Another object of the invention is to provide means or combinations of parts whereby they the artificial leg when the wearer occupies a a position of repose and where there is no weight resting upon the artificial leg member to hold it in fixed position, to the end that when the wearer resumes a standing position from a sitting or re- 5 clining position, the relative position of the body to the artificial leg member remains unchanged, enabling the wearer to resume use of his artificial leg member without readjusting the position of the artificial leg member with relation 10 to the body.

Another object of the invention is to providemeans or combinations of parts 'to enable the wearer to use and operate an artificial leg member of the same length as the natural leg member, 15 and overcome impediments that are inherent in other methods of suspension of artificial legs, such as rising on the ballof the natural foot member at each step, or raising the shoulder on the amputated side at each step, or swinging the artificial leg member in an arc lateral to the body of the wearer at each step, any one orall three of which expedients are essential requirements in walking on an artificial leg member of the same length as the natural leg suspended 25 from the body by any other means whatsoever, with the result that the perpendicular position of the body is not altered and parts of the body distorted thereby, such as the twisting of the spinal column. 30

Another object of the invention is to provide means or combinations of parts which insure more positive control and permit the wearer to use the artificial leg member in any position the wearer may occupy, enabling the wearer to walk 35 over rough and uneven surfaces, or up or down inclines, or to walk stooped over.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which will simulate the normal action of the natural leg member, in that there is employed means for the balance or resistance of a purely pendulum movement of the lower leg section, to the end that there is a natural relation between the movements of the natural and the artificial leg members.

Another object of the invention is to provide means or combinations of parts designed and constructed to control the efiort or energy required to bring the upper andlower leg sections into alinement to insure natural, easy walking on lines of least resistance.

Another object of the invention is to overcome and avoid the contacting of the artificial leg socket member with the pelvis in standing and walking, and the contacting of the artificial leg socket member with the abdomen, in a sitting posture, without loss of leverage in action, and without permitting the stump member to leave its bearings.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the invention applied for use.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation illustrating the leg mounting.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the supporting belt or band.

Figure 4 is a side elevation and part section illustrating the invention in use.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section taken through the axis of the knee joint and looking forward.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the removable knee cap.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-'l on Figure 4.

In the drawings, 5 designates the thigh section and 6 the lower leg section of an artificial leg. A foot I is attached to the lower leg section .in the usual manner and the leg sections are pivotally connected at the knee as generally indicated at 8. The thigh section is hollow and is flared at its upper end to receive the stump of the amputated leg of the wearer as indicated in Figures 1 and 4 ofthe drawings. 1

The lower end wall of the thigh section 5 is slotted as at 9 and suitably recessed to receive a bumper or check block I0, and a knee cap member II is removably secured thereto through the medium of screws which pass upwardly through holes 12 formed in said cap member and into said end wall.

The knee cap member I I and the thigh section end wall to which it is secured are formed with complementary half-bores form a cross bore to receive the knee pivot bolt M. The bolt I4 passes through the eyes l of strap members 16 secured at opposite sides of the lower leg section as shown in Figure 5. At one end the bolt I4 is equipped with a head I! and at its other end it is internally threaded to re-.

ceive a cap screw l8 which when tightened against the adjacent eye i5 securely clamps the bolt Hi to move with the lower leg section B.

A lining I9 of rawhide or similar compressible material is fitted in the upper half-bore l3 and a pair of U-bolts 20 equipped with soft metal bushing portions 2| embrace the portion of the pivot bolt l4 opposite the lining and pass upwardly through holes 22 in the end wall of the thigh section 5. By adjusting the nuts 23 with which the U-bolts are equipped the bolt [4 my be drawn against the lining IS in greater or lesser degree thus providing a. friction knee joint in which the degree of resistance to free swinging or pendulum movement of the lower leg section 6 relative to the thigh section 5 may be adjusted to a nicety, enabling perfect adaptation of the leg to the walking gait of the particular wearer.

Within the slot 9 of the thigh section end wall a crank member 24 is mounted upon and secured at 25 to move with the pivot bolt l4, and a check l3 which together standard 26 is secured to and depends from the crank member into the lower leg section 6 where it is vertically-adjustably secured as at 21 in a socket provided in a bracket 28 anchored to the front wall of the lower leg sectionas shown in Figure 5. It will be understood that by reason of this equipment all movement of which the lower Engagement of the forward end of the crank member 24 with the check block l0 limits forward swinging movement of the lower leg section 6 and determines alinement of the leg sections 5 and B when the composite artificial member is in repose as shown in Figure 4. By adjustment of the standard 26 in its socket in the bracket 28 a measure of adjustment of the alinement of the leg sections 5 and 6 is provided for.

The combination of the adjustable friction knee joint and the novel means which I have devised for supporting and controlling my improved leg from and by the hips of the wearer, as distinguished from thewaist band and shoulder suspender combinations heretofore employed, constitutes the outstanding feature of my invention for by this means a wearer of the artificial member is enabled to walk with greater facility, skill, confidence. and comfort than has heretofore been possible.

To this end I provide a hip belt 3|, suitably padded to provide the greatest possible comfort, and equipped with adjustment strap and buckle equipment 32 to facilitate mounting and removal and accurate adjustment when in use. The belt encircles the hips of the wearer well below the waist line and between the iliac crest and the great trochanter as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

In order even more definitely to position the supporting belt and provide for control of the leg action by the hips of the wearer I reinforce and render relatively rigid a substantial part of said belt by securing thereto or incorporating therein a reinforce strip 33 of spring steel or other suitably rigid material. The strip is shown as rivet-secured as at 34 in this particular disclosure and extends forwardly to a point slightly in advance of the ilium as indicated at 35 and rearwardly around to within one inch from the center of the back as indicated at 36. This strip is shaped to snugly fit the curvature of the body of the particular wearer in the regions mentioned so that when securely strapped in position it substantially becomes, for all practical purposes, a part of the anatomy of the wearer in the region of the ilium and the overlying muscular equipment above the amputated member.

As a means of further definitely positioning the rigid belt strip 33 I have shown the belt in Figure 3 divided by vertical and horizontal dot and dash lines into right hand anterior and posterior portions (see the upper left and right respectively of Figure 3), and left hand anterior and posterior portions (see the lower left and aoeasso where the amputation is atthe left side as shown in Figure 1 .of the drawings.

A male hinge or pivot member 31 is rigidly secured toand depends from the strip 33 at a point approximately one inch in advance of the great trochanter of the wearer's amputated member as shown in Figure 4 and this member is of such a length and is so positioned by the belt that its lower terminus is disposed in the same general plane with the great trochanter. The member 3'! is pivotally connected with the female pivot member 38 secured to and projecting slightly above the thigh section, and the axis 39 of the pivotal connection is thus definitely.

positioned 'and'secured at a' point approximate- 'mately one inch ahead of and on the same level with the great trochanter or natural hip joint of the amputated member of the wearer. See Figures 1, 2, and 4.

'At the rear and slightly to the outside of the glutaeus maximus an elastic strap 40 is secured to and depends from the reinforced belt 3|, 33, and a similar elastic strap 4| is secured to and depends from the belt at the front and closely adjacent the front terminus of the belt strip 33. A strap 42 connects the free ends of theelastics, there being provided an adjustment buckle equipment 43 at the front connection whereby the length of the 'belt-to-belt connection 40, 42, 43, 4| can be adjusted to suitthe needs of the wearer.

In forming the strap connection between the elastics and 4|, the free end of the strap 42 is passed through front and rear apertures 44 formed in the thigh section and the bight or loop of the strap thus disposed within said thigh ,section engages under a roller 45 secured as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings to the crank arm 24 and about one inch in front of the axis of the knee bolt l4.

The stump socket formed in the thigh section 5 is so shaped that the stump tightly engages the anterior and posterior walls thereof but has a measure of freedom at each side as is some what diagrammatically illustrated in Figure '7 of the drawings. This novel fitting not only contributes materially to the comfort of the wearer of the artificial member but also greatly facilitates control of the leg action and allows the wearer to carry the weight mostly on the muscles of 'the thigh.

Pressure of the belt strip 33 upon the back of the wearer not only affords a measure of support but, by reason of its application at a point behind and slightly above the leg and belt pivot 39 disposed slightly in advance of, the great trochanter or natural hip pivot,\cooperates with the peculiar socket fitting and pivot positioning to force the stump toward the front of the socket and by so doing facilitatescontrol of the leg action and assuresagainst freeing ortwisting of the socket from or on the stump in. positions of repose or when the leg is lifted oif the ground.

In adjusting the, leg to the needs of'a wearer the strap connections 40, 42, 4| are tightened just enough to hold the alinement of the leg sec- ,tions as shown in Figure 4. The ofiice of this I pelling medium. When the lower leg section is bent backward incident to the making'of a progressive step and the transfer of weight from the artificial member tothe sound member, the strap hip forwardly and upwardly the friction acts as a retarder to prevent free pendulum-like swinging of the lower leg section and permit only the desired controlled muscular-like movement of said section.

By reason of the positioning of the rear elas tic at one side, the outer side, of the glutaeus maximus, as shown in Figure 2, this strap can deflect laterally sufiiciently to avoid excessive stretching thereof over the buttock of'the wearer and the exertion of any undesirable pull on the roller and crank 45, 24.

From the foregoing description, taken in con-" nection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the novel details of construction, the manner of use and the advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled .in the art to which it relates.

I claimr 1. Inan artificiaf leg, the combination of a lower leg section, a thigh section, a knee joint for said sections, a support and control belt for encircling the hips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter portions and a rigid section extending posteriorly through substantially "the whole of -the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anterior quarter portion at the sidev of amputation, and a short length pivotal connection between the anteriorly extended portion of the rigid section and the thigh section.

2. In an artificial leg, the combination of a lower leg section, a thigh section, an adjustable friction knee joint for said sections including a forwardly extending crank member secured to move with the lower leg section, a support and control belt for encircling the hips of a wearer andincluding anterior and posterior quarter portions and a rigid sectionin said belt extending posteriorly through substantially the whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly lower leg section, a thigh section, an adjustable friction knee'jo'int for said sections including a forwardly extending crank member secured to move with the lower leg{ section, a support and control belt for encircling the trips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter p ortions and arigid section in said belt extending posteriorly through substantially the whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anteriorquarter portion at the side of amputation, a short length pivotalconnection between the anteriorly extended portion of the rigid'section and the thigh section, and a lower section control strap connected forwardly and rearwardly to the belt and having connection with said crank member, said strap being connected rearwardly to the rigid portion of said belt and forwardly to the non-rigid portion of the belt adjacent to the anterior terminus of the rigid portion thereof.

4. Inan artificial leg, the combination of a lower leg section, a thigh section, a pivotal joint for said sections, a support and control belt for encircling the hips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter portions and a reinforce member extending posteriorly through substantially the Whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anterior quarter portion at the side ,of amputation, a short length pivotal connection between the anteriorly extended portion of the rigid section and the thigh section, and means for connecting the belt with the lower leg section whereby to prevent excessive movement of the lower leg section backward relative to its companion section and to initiate the forward movement of said lower leg section incident to the making of a progressive step.

5. In an artificial leg, the combination of a lower leg section. a thigh section, a pivotal joint for said sections, a support and.control belt for encircling the hips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter portions and a reinforce member extending posteriorly through substantially the whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anterior quarter portion at the side of amputation, a short length pivotal connection between the anteriorly extended portion of the rigid section and the thigh section, and a strap connected posteriorly to the reinforced portion of the belt and anteriorly adjacent the terminus of the reinforce of said belt and having a slide connection with the lower leg section whereby to prevent excessive movement of the lower leg section backward relative to its companion section and to initiate the forward movement of said lower leg section incident'to the making of a progressive step.

6. In an artificial leg, the combination of a lower leg section, a thigh section, a pivotal joint for said sections, a support and control belt for encircling the'hips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter portions and a reinforce member extending posteriorly through substantially the whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anterior quarter portion at the side of amputation, a short length pivotal connection between the thigh section and said member, and a strap connected posteriorly to the reinforced portion of the belt and anteriorly adjacent the terminus of the reinforce of said belt and having a slide connection with the lower leg section whereby to prevent excessive movement of the lower leg section backward relative to its com-' panion section and to initiate the forward movement of said lower leg section incident to the making of a progressive step, the posteriorly connected portion of said strap being disposed approximately at the center of the posterior quarter portion.

'7. In an artificial leg, the combination of a lower leg section, a thigh section having formed therein a stump socket shaped to fit the stump of the wearer snugly anteriorly and posteriorly but aifording considerable freedom for said stump at each side, a pivotal joint for said sections, a support and control belt for encircling the hips of a wearer and including anterior and posterior quarter portions and a reinforce member extendingposteriorly through substantially the whole of the posterior quarter portion and anteriorly through approximately half of the anterior quarter portion at the side of amputation, a short length pivotal connection between the anteriorly extended portion of the rigid section and the thigh section, and means for connecting the belt with the lower leg section whereby to prevent excessive movement of the lower leg section backward relative to its companion section and to initiate the forward movement of said lower leg section incident to the making of a progressive step.

CHARLES F. CLACK. 

